The Young Supporters Board of the UAB Comprehensive Cancer Center will present Fiesta Ball 2018, an evening with live music, delicious food by Happy Catering and a silent auction Friday, May 4, 7-11 p.m. at Haven, 2515 Sixth Ave. South.
The annual, fun-filled event will benefit young cancer researchers at UAB by jump-starting their research, with the goal of leveraging their research findings to compete for additional federal grants. The silent auction portion of the evening will benefit cancer outreach efforts focused on eliminating cancer disparities throughout the state of Alabama.
“It is critical we support the next generation of scientists. Young cancer researchers are at the beginning of their careers and must compete for funding with more established scientists,” said Michael Birrer, M.D., Ph.D., director of the UAB Comprehensive Cancer Center. “They often lack the necessary body of research data to be competitive. If their work is not funded, many of these bright young minds will leave research for more lucrative fields, taking the next potential breakthrough discovery with them.”
The Young Supporters Board of the UAB Cancer Center was established in 2006 to introduce the next generation of Alabamians to the importance of cancer research and awareness. The board is composed of young professionals who have all been touched by cancer in some way.
Dr. Alicia Waters
General surgery resident Alicia Waters, M.D., serves on the Young Supporters Board and explained that the experience is something she values deeply as a physician.
“I’m the only resident on the board and maybe the only doctor, so I just think it’s really good for me to see the other side,” she said. “This has been a great opportunity for me to really get to know the patients as patients and to get involved with them on the outside of the hospital through events like the Fiesta Ball. It lets me see the patients on more of a personal level, instead of just as part of a physician relationship.”
Waters said she also has a special appreciation for the grants awarded to these young cancer researchers after working in the lab of the Division of Pediatric Surgery’s Elizabeth Beierle, M.D., earlier in her residency.
“I think for me personally, I know how much the grant money means,” Waters said. “After working in Dr. Beierle’s research lab, I understand how difficult it is to get grants through fundraising. My main focus as part of the Young Supporters Board is to help bring these young investigators back to the Cancer Center so they can talk about where the grant money has gotten them and where their research is taking them.”
Tickets can be purchased for Fiesta Ball in advance for $35 by clicking here; the cost at the door will be $40. Valet and self-parking will be available. Ride sharing is encouraged.
The title sponsor for this year’s event is Alabama Power. The grand sponsors are AutoTec and the StoneRiver Company. Other event sponsors include ARD Contracting, Capstone Real Estate Investments, Jemison Investment Co., and Warren Averett CPAs and Advisors.
To donate directly to the UAB Comprehensive Cancer Center Young Investigator Grant Fund, visit uab.edu/giveysb.
For more information, visit www.uab.edu/fiestaball or contact Alex Huffman at 205-934-1603 or ahuffman@uab.edu.
Media contact: Beena Thannickal at 205-975-3967 or beenat@uab.edu.
This story was compiled using a press release from UAB News.